Preschool Lead Teacher - Valley Ymca

Description
This position supports the mission and work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization. The Preschool Lead Teacher provides direct supervision and leadership to a group of children ages 3-5 years old and is responsible for providing a program that fosters children's social, physical, spiritual, and mental growth. The Preschool Lead Teacher assures the well-being for each participant in line with YMCA of the USA guidelines and association policies in accordance with their training.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Models the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility with members, colleagues, guests, volunteers, and vendors.
• Positively and proactively communicates with and responds to supervisor, staff, program participants, and parents.
• Ensures that program participants, program areas, and equipment are kept clean and safe.
• Maintains physical presence, remains alert at all times while on duty, maintains constant visual attention to program participants, remains aware of surroundings, and actively participates in all program activities.
• Knows, follows, and enforces all YMCA policies, rules, regulations, and procedures, including those for the prevention of child abuse and the Rule of Three.
• Follows all Office of Early Childhood (OEC) and YMCA Child Care procedures and guidelines including those pertaining to health and safety, supervision of children, child care discipline, policy drop-off/pick-up, attendance, forms, reports, and staff expectations as required by the YMCA, licensing, and the state health department.
• Performs on-going developmental evaluations of children as required by funding sources. Develops weekly plans and implements age appropriate curriculum (lesson plan) to nurture and stimulate all domains of children's development, addresses the individual needs of each child, and prepares developmental progress reports as needed.
• Demonstrates cultural competency and respect for the child's background by incorporating the cultural, linguistic, and familial values and beliefs into the childcare program and lesson plans.
• Provides a developmentally appropriate classroom environment that reflects the children's learning and growth. Regularly plans, evaluates and improves the physical environment in the classroom to create opportunities to meet the changing needs of the developing child.
• Provides responsive care to all children by adapting daily care giving routines and plans to the interests and needs of the individual child and the group.
• Assists and tutors children individually and in small groups to help master material and reinforce learning outcomes.
• Develops schedules and routines to ensure children have enough physical activity, rest, and playtime.
• Watches for signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and brings problems to the attention of parents.
• Keeps records of the students' progress, routines, and interests, and keeps parents informed about their child's development
• Knows, reviews, and enforces all emergency procedures and responds to emergency situations immediately in accordance with YMCA policies, procedures, completes related reports as required.
• Attends all mandatory meetings and trainings.

Requirements

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university in Early Childhood Education
• Excellent customer service, decision-making, problem solving, team-oriented, and critical thinking skills
• Effective communication skills necessary to inform, counsel, motivate, and support members and staff
• Ability to remain calm and objective when under pressure or when working with children that display challenging behaviors
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community
• Must be observant, safety-conscious, and able to react calmly and quickly in an emergency
• Documentation of physical examination and TB Tine Test required at hire and to be repeated every two (2) years
• Must complete OEC background check and fingerprinting within thirty (30) days of hire
• CT Child Care CPR/First Aid certification required within six (6) months of hire
• Administration of Medications certification preferred
• Continued professional development per OEC licensing requirements (training hours equal to or greater than 20% of hours worked)